[Monroe hikers]

40 miles NE of Monroe, off Index-Troublesome Creek Road from Highway 2. There were 4 miles total of bumpy dirt road. Weather calm overcast/misty/fog, in upper 50s all day. Trail was in good condition and beautifully litter free. This was a wonderful deep woods walk. Saw a half dozen small frogs, teeny 1"ers to 2-3"ers. Stopped at washout, didn't want a dirt bank scramble 12-20 feet deep. Turned around, went back to trail fork; took trail to Pass Creek. We saw a green FS pickup where trail left old road; and near Pass Creek, a party of 3 tents, tarp shelter & 2 cached red supply bags. No one was on the trail, only 1 rig at the parking lot when we returned. Spotted a new (to us) plant, "Twisted Stalk". I was enchanted by the old Forest Service signs of deeply indented darkened block letters/numbers on beautifully weathered grey wood shapes, nailed high on evergreens. Our hike took us over 7 miles round trip at a moderate pace for 4.5 hours total. A short 20 minute side trip to the Salmon Hatchery at Gold Bar on the way back. No tours needed, you can go there anytime. In a holding pen north of the parking area we thought we saw Coho and Steelhead salmon. Big kiosk signs tell the whole story of what they're doing there -- MOST interesting!

[Wazzuhiker]

They were most likely King Salmon you saw at the Wallace Hatchery, the Cohos dont show up for another couple months. Did you try to take the Pass Creek trail or follow the North Fork trail, we ran into a washout a little ways past the Pass Creek trial cutoff, but it was on the North Fork trail?